Her positive attitude 'rubbed off' on other people. [=other people began to have a positive attitude from being around her]
We 'rubbed' the steaks with spices before we grilled them. = We 'rubbed' spices onto the steaks before we grilled them.
It's bad enough that he beat me, but the way he keeps talking about it is just 'rubbing salt in the wound'.
(..) GRANDMA: Biff! BIFF: Yeah. GRANDMA: Where are you going, Biff? BIFF: I'm going to get my car, Grandma. GRANDMA: When are you coming back? I want you to rub my toes. BIFF: Shut up, you old bag. KIDS: Give us our ball back. BIFF: What ball? KIDS: That ball! BIFF: What are you talking about? (..)1989 Back to the Future Part II